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WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017 SPORTS England begin Six Nations title defense against Italy LONDON: England will start the defense of back-to-back Grand Slams this year, ing the title-winners. Friday night rugby eight uncapped players in their squad to are also missing Jamie Heaslip, Rob their Six Nations title away to Italy, it was begin their Six Nations away to France on remains a part of the competition in both face the United States and Japan next Kearney and Jordi Murphy through injury announced yesterday after organizers pub- February 3 with Wales at home to seasons, with France hosting Italy in 2018 month as coach Joe Schmidt handed a but can count on the experience of Keith lished the fixtures for both the 2018 and Scotland on the same day. and Wales in 2019. The final round of number of younger players the chance to Earls, Cian Healy and Devin Toner for the 2019 Championships. Eddie Jones’s men The Championship has remained a sev- matches on March 16, 2019 sees Italy at impress with 11 regulars touring with the tour starting in the U.S. on June 10. begin their 2018 campaign in Rome on en-week competition, with rest weeks after home to France, Wales welcoming Ireland British and Irish Lions. Schmidt picked four Schmidt’s squad travel to Japan for two February 4 against an Italy side who, the second and third rounds, despite the to Cardiff and England taking on Scotland forwards for the first time - Connacht hook- tests on June 17 and 24, a preview of their although they finished bottom and with- likes of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning at Twickenham. er Dave Heffernan, Ulster lock Kieran 2019 World Cup meeting having been out a win, briefly caused England problems coach Clive Woodward calling for it to be “We are delighted to confirm the fixture Treadwell and Leinster pair of Andrew drawn in the same group last week. There with their ‘no-ruck’ ploy at Twickenham shortened into a five-week event to better dates for the 2018 Championship, coming Porter and James Ryan, the highly-rated will also be a fresh look to the coaching during this season’s Six Nations. replicate what happens at rugby union’s shortly after a record-breaking 2017 edi- 20-year-old second row who has yet to staff with former internationals Ronan England are then at home to Wales major global tournament. France will con- tion,” Six Nations Rugby chairman Pat play a senior game for the province. O’Gara, Girvan Dempsey and Felix Jones, before travelling to Edinburgh for a tinue to fly the flag for Friday night rugby, Whelan said in a statement. “We enjoyed Munster centre Rory Scannell, who was who have all recently moved into coaching, Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland and which has been criticised for making life record figures across TV and digital and called up to the Irish squad during this sea- joining the touring party for different parts playing France away before concluding more difficult for away supporters in par- look forward to continuing that trend over son’s Six Nations but did not win a cap, was of the trip. “There is a real freshness to the their Championship at home to Ireland ticular, by hosting Italy in 2018 and Wales the next two seasons.” included alongside three other potential group, including the coaching staff, so on March 17 — the middle game of in 2019. The 2019 fixture list also has debutant backs - Connacht scrumhalf John we’re looking forward to what will be a ‘Super Saturday’ when all six teams are in England away to Ireland on the opening IRELAND NAME EIGHT UNCAPPED PLAYERS Cooney, Leinster centre Rory O’Loughlin, very challenging summer tour,” Schmidt action. Ireland, who denied England weekend-a potentially key game in decid- Meanwhile in Dublin, Ireland named and Ulster fullback Jacob Stockdale. Ireland said in a statement. — Agencies Brawn willing to work with MotoGP on F1 race calendar LONDON: Formula One has sounded out BEST DRIVERS MotoGP for cooperation and advice as the He said the way in which MotoGP’s junior sport embarks on a period of change under series formed part of the same race weekend new owners Liberty Media. Ross Brawn, the was also “a great example of where we should former Ferrari technical director who has run be”, with talent rising to the top and a clear three teams and is now Formula One’s man- career progression that fans could easily fol- aging director for motorsport, said he was low. Formula One drivers enter the sport from open to learning lessons from any other various series and some are chosen by cash- series. The Briton told Reuters that he and strapped teams more for their financial con- Carmelo Ezpeleta, chief executive of MotoGP tribution than talent alone. rights holders Dorna, had discussed “areas of “We should have the 22 or 24 best driv- cooperation and how we can learn from what ers in the world in Formula One,” said each of us does” at last weekend’s Spanish Brawn. “There are commercial considera- Grand Prix in Barcelona. On a basic level, that tions... which means we don’t always means working to limit a clash of calendars. achieve that. “It’s a complex problem The first two rounds of this year’s Formula because you have to put the teams in a One and MotoGP championships were on the position where they don’t have to make same weekends, and six more will clash later those commercial decisions, they just make in the year. They include MotoGP’s final round the decision based on the strongest drivers in Valencia on Nov. 12, the same day as they can find.” Formula One’s Brazilian Grand Prix-both title- A fairer distribution of revenues deciders in the past. Brawn said such clashes among teams, deciding what kind of were “not smart”. “We’re not too proud to con- future engine the sport should have and sult with other championships and work out building cars that allow closer racing are the best way forward,” he said, speaking in all big long-term items in Brawn’s in-tray. Formula One Management’s new paddock None offer quick solutions, with existing hospitality at the Circuit de Catalunya. team contracts running to 2020, and the “It’s difficult to juggle dates, and you can’t immediate emphasis is putting the people in always achieve what you want, but at least place to analyze and assess and come up with we’re having a dialogue to try and work it substantial arguments. Brawn said he was out.” There were other areas where Formula “reasonably happy” with progress. One could learn lessons, he added. “I like the “There’s not going to be a revolution in meritocracy that they have between Moto3, Formula One where suddenly we come up Moto2 and MotoGP. I like the progression that with a big change and everything gets better. they have. “I think it’s interesting looking at It’s going to be a constant process,” he said. the commercial side, the way they structure “Until we get the capacity to really under- the teams and the deals and the way it works stand the direction the sport should change for the customer teams. I think it’s an interest- to, we’re not going to change any of the big ing element.” things. It’s just too risky.” — Reuters Dumoulin flies to pink, ROME: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal serves to Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem during their ATP Madrid Open final match in Madrid, Quintana drops to 2nd on May 14, 2017. — AFP MONTEFALCO: Dutchman Tom Dumoulin finish at Blockhaus on stage nine Sunday, Nadal can’t fault Federer cruised to victory in the 10th stage time tri- Quintana-covered from head to toe in pink- al of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday to claim dropped to second overall at 2:23 behind the race leader’s pink jersey from Dumoulin after narrowly avoiding disaster Colombian Nairo Quintana. Dumoulin, of when he had to bunny-hop over a traffic for skipping clay season the Sunweb team, flew over the rolling, divider. Dutchman, Bauke Mollema (Trek), 39.8 km course in the Sagrantino wine- failed to finish among the top ten but growing region to finish in a winning time remains third at 2min 38sec, nine seconds ROME: Rafael Nadal believes the decision by speculated Nadal, who has won three clay titles in again in these events.” Nadal added: “It’s important of 50min 37sec and live up to his name as ahead of Frenchman Thibaut Pinot (FDJ). Roger Federer to skip Roland Garros and the clay three events competed in this season. “But think- for me that the clay court season started very, very the ‘Butterfly of Maastricht’. Although the race for the pink jersey will season is logical as the Spaniard yesterday pre- ing in a logical way, it would be strange if you well. It’s very important part of the season for me.” Britain’s Geraint Thomas (Sky), still nurs- be decided in the climb-heavy third week of pared to start the Rome Masters. The world num- don’t play on clay in one event and then you start With this week a new challenge, seven-time Rome ing a sore arm from the effects of a crash on the race, Dumoulin was delighted with a ber four does not begrudge his Swiss rival for on the biggest one, playing best of five.” champion Nadal is not dwelling on past successes.